Assess the effectiveness of Confucianism in helping China cope with its political and

socio economic concerns today.

Evidently shown through the sparks of unrests throughout China, including peasant
unrests over sannong issues, ethnic unrests in places such as Tibet and Xinjiang,
and riots against unfair treatment, CCPs political legitimacy is undoubtedly
challenged. These problems appear due to modernization process and rapid
economic growth in China since 1978. These are backlashes from the One-Child
Policy, unequal distribution of wealth between the inlands and the coastal regions,
and also the influx of Western values. Hence, CCP is actively reviving Confucianism
in the hope of solving these problems, so that they will not affect the countrys
political and socio-economic growth in the long-run.
Through its emphasis of Harmonious Society Confucianism is able to reduce social
division. Social problems have occurred as a result of rapid economic growth and
unequal distribution of wealth. As a result of the above, there is a serious divide
between the rural-urban areas. Unrests, ie the San nong Issues have appeared
especially from the rural people whom felt are unfairly treated as they are not given
the share of countrys wealth. Rural-urban migration is becoming for the CCP as
many peasants are flowing into the urban centers in search of better pay. With
restrictions in place, like the hukou system, disgruntled peasants have expressed
discontentment through riots and unrests. The urbanites on the other hand, have
discriminated against the rural migrants in the urban centers. The urbanites have
stereotyped the rural people and have labeled them as uncouth and are parasites to
their contribution to the economy. Hus emphasis on harmonious society is based
on Confucianisms value of harmony. Through this ideal, rural peasants should not
be based on social status, but rather everyone should be equal without prejudices.
Rural peasants should not cause social upheaval for the good of creating a
harmonious society. However, the Sannong Issues and rural-urban divide have been
long-standing challenges which require more than just a rhetoric solution. The issue
of rural urban divide has been getting intensified as Chinas economy grows rapidly.
The CCP has to allow more rural workers to enter the urban centers to keep Chinas
economy growing and this number is estimated at 80 to 110million. The urbanites
will have to contend with this huge number of migrant workers in their homeland.
The competition for employment will create further rift between the 2extreme
sectors of Chinese society.

As Chinas middle class rises, the CCP will have to utilize Confucianism as a means
to counter this up and coming forces of opposition. The middle class has been
exposed more to ideas from the West, and is more daring in challenging the CCPs
policies and governance. The middle class has a history of challenging the CCPs
authority in China, for e.g. the Tiananmen Sq Incident. Their exposure to Western
ideas such as democracy is a threat to CCPs survival in China. They can openly

challenge the government through forming NGOs or even representing the

commoners to fight for rights. The CCP has to instill the idea of subordination in its
people so as to prevent them from challenging the authorities. Confucianism has
emphasis on hierarchy and subordination to the ruler by a subject. This is derived
from the 5cardinal relationships set by Confucius. This is a form of respecting the
authority and not crossing the line in the social hierarchal order. Only can society be
in order when everyone knows their places in society. However, irresponsible
governance at the local levels has caused the CCP to be under constant scrutiny.
Corruption at the local levels has created a platform for the Chinese to criticize the
central government for its ignorance and incompetence. Collaboration between
corrupt officials and unscrulpulous developers caused the deaths of many school
children during the 2008 Sichuan riots was a result of corrupt and abusive officials
who confiscated property at will. As a result, people took to the streets in order to
vent their frustrations and also to create awareness of their situation. Social unrests
have never been a boon to CCP and could even result in the fall of the party which
almost became a reality during the Tiananmen Square Incident.

Confucianism can be a very effective tool in countering modernization. After

China[s economic reforms in 1978, the influx of Western ideas has been
unprecedented. Ideas such as individualism have resulted in an erosion of social
mores and values. Divorce rates are increasing. Prostitution is on the rise in China
and the younger generation is now more open with sex. Coupled with
modernization, the OCP has also created a generation of self-centered Little
Emperors and Empresses who are preoccupied with their individual wants. Hence,
the CCP has to revive Confucianism to counter the ill effects of modernization and
the OCP. Confucianism places emphasis on proper conduct, or Rites giving the
Chinese a sense of propriety. This is done through incorporating Confucianism in the
education system, hoping to correct the youngs psyches. This will be especially
effective as China ages, and will need the younger generation to share social
burden of taking care the social burden of taking care of the aged. In other words,
the paramount concept of filial piety in Confucianism is of the utmost importance
which must be instilled in the young to prepare China for a graying population. With
this, the Chinese authorities aim to change the current generation of degenerates
into useful citizens for China. However, the influx of Western ideals have been very
appealing to the younger generation, who have since young been exposed to
American culture. As China continues to be deeply integrated with the global
economy, it has to be susceptible to Western culture. Moreover, in this
computerized era, Chinese youths have become more IT-savvy, and the uncensored
information on the internet will definitely create more impact than the formal
Confucian education in school. Unless the CCP keeps up with the pace of
information explosion, Chinese youths will be more attracted with the freer and

expressive Western culture than with the tradition expressive Western culture
than with the traditional and binding Confucian ideals.

With the China Threat Theory looming in the international arena, the CCP has to
downplay it through its emphasis of a Confucian Harmonious International
Community. The West has always targeted China as a rising threat with its
economical stranglehold and military prowess. Chinas competition with other
countries over territories, such as the Senkaku Islands and the Spratly Islands ahs
resulted it being labeled as a hegemonic state. The developed nations are also
blaming China for its economic stranglehold over the global economy and its
unglamorous contribution to pollution. In order remove such labeling from the West,
China has to apply the concept of harmonious international community to
appease the disgruntled nations. Hu has been emphasizing the fact that China is
committed in creating a harmonious world albeit is Peaceful Development. With
this in mind, China is trying to tell the West to remove its stereotype it has and to
cooperate to make the world a safer place to conduct diplomacy and trade.
However, China is willing to present itself as a peaceful nation provided its national
interests are not at stake. The CCP will not allow. Western powers to interfere in its
domestic affairs, ie the Taiwan and Tibetan issues. The CCP will also never allow
the West in using human rights as a platform for interfering in its national affairs. In
addition, in bid to sustain its economic development, China has to sacrifice its
harmonious image. China has very close relationship with pariah states such as Iran
and Sudan in exchange for energy sources. However, this relationship has
discredited China for its compromise on world peace and security.
Pragmatism and practicality are more effective in resolving Chinas political and
socio-economic concerns. Despite utilizing Confucianism as a tool in combating the
concerns , it would be more effective if more concrete and customized polices can
be implemented. For eg, the rural-urban divide in China has its roots in unequal
development. Therefore, it would be more pragmatic to develop the western regions
as in the Go West Policy. The CCP has also used the Non-interference Policy in
explaining Chinas stance on relationship with the rogue states. Giving it a platform
to conduct diplomacy with any nations of their choice with limitations. The Petition
system is a way of combating abuse from corrupt officials, however, this system
still has its flaws as many of the grievances are still to able to reach the central
leadership for redress. The PLA is there to prevent protest or social unrests from
escalating into nation-wide demonstrations. Typically, unrests are swiftly stamped
out by the PLA as seen in the 2008 Tibetan unrests and the Falungong protests.
However, problems with not political implications such as environmental and
housing issues can be negotiated and settled peacefully with the disgruntle rioters.
This approach is more practical as it stems out the problem before it escalates
further.

Confucianism is actually effective as it provides the soft approach in resolving socioeconomic and political concerns. However the effects may not come as readily as
practical and concrete measures. Hence, the CCP has to complement the 2 as each
has its advantages in the long and short run respectively. If these concerns have
direct and immediate implications on the legitimacy of the CCP Confucianism may
not work as fast as other policies do. In short, Confucianism is a very effective
complement to the other policies in place which have more direct solutions to the
already immediate problems pouring out in China today.

Assess the effectiveness of Confucianism in helping China cope with its political and
socio-economic concerns today.
Confucianism is a school of thoughts dating back more than 2000years ago from a
sage known as Confucius. He stressed that each individual has a specific role to
play in the society and no one should cross the boundaries of his role if harmony is
to prevail in the country. Confucius also taught that one must behave in an ethical
manner though which prosperity of the country could be guaranteed. The roles of
Confucius referred to hinged upon five types of relationship amongst the individuals
in a society and they could be universally applied to all. They are relationships
between; father and son, ruler and subject, husband and wife, elder and younger
brother, friends. Confucianism has a strong influence on the Chinese society even
when China was ruled by non-Han Chinese as evident during the Qing dynasty when
the rulers were Manchurians. Emperor Kang His and Qian Long were among a few of
the Qing emperors who firmly believed in the teachings of Confucius and devotedly
abided by them in their governing of the country, needless to say achieving success
and prosperity for China at that time. Confucianism was also embedded in Chinas
education system over the years and thus, leaders subscribing to his philosophies
were produced. Inevitably, governing parties such as CCP frequently referred to
Confucius doctrines in their governing of China today. Confucianism has been
relatively successful in helping CCP address its political and socio-economic
concerns there have been instances when such success were not achieved too.

CCP, in order to secure its legitimacy to govern China, has always had a primary
objective which is to provide for the people, the most viable way would be to
develop the economy so that more and more employment opportunities could be
created; one way is to develop local industries and the other was to welcome
foreign investors. This act greatly improved the lives of the Chinese and many
successfully switched from agriculture to secondary or even tertiary industries in
which working conditions are better and income more stable. In this way, it is
clearly evident that CCP abided by Confucius dictated relationship between that of
ruler and subject. The formers duty and obligation is to ensure the latter has a job
to gain income and reasonably good living conditions while the latter is expected to
give full cooperation to the former so that policies implemented could be successful
and if the ruler managers to improve their lives, they are to continue to give them
the legitimacy to be rulers of the country. However, development also meant an
increase in the standard of living implying that costs are also ever-increasing. This is
especially so in the urban areas resulting in women having to seek employment to
chip in the household expense as well. This trend clearly goes against the teachings
of the relationship between husband and wide. He stated that it is the duty of the
husband to provide for the family while it is that of the wide to remain at home to
run the household and take care of the young and elderly. Of course, such a lifestyle
is getting less popular by choice in China given the rising costs of living and
educational qualifications of women. Confucianism has been relatively effective in
managing Chinas socio-economic concern at large. His teachings have reminded
the government of the need to remain legitimate by providing them with a stable
source of income. This has led to China becoming more and more developed.
Development has helped the population to become more affluent. This implies that
they are more capable of tending to their own needs and even planning for
retirement. Thus, the government need not allow for a huge budget to subsidize the
population at large. Despite the fact that working women goes against the
teachings of Confucius, it could be argued that such a trend is better for women.
They could contribute actively to the economy and become financially ruler
manages to improve their lives, they are to continue to give them the legitimacy to
be rulers of the country. However, development also meant that an increase in the
standard of living implying that costs are also ever-increasingly. This is especially so
in the urban areas resulting in women having to seek employment to chip in the
household expenses as well. This trend clearly goes against Confucius teachings of
the relationship between husband and wife. He stated that it is the duty of the
husband to provide for the family while it is that of the wife to remain at home to
run the household and take care of the young and elderly. Of course, such as
lifestyle is getting less popular by choice in China given the rising costs of living and
educational qualification of women. Confucianism has been relatively effective in
managing Chinas socio-economic concern at large. His teachings have reminded
the government of the need to remain legitimate by providing them with a stable
source of income. This has led to China becoming more and more developed.
Development has helped the population to become more affluent. This implies that

they are more capable of tending to their own needs and even planning for
retirement. Thus, the government need not allow for a huge budget to subsidize the
population, freeing up more funds to engage in national development for the food of
the population at large. Despite the fact that working women goes against the
teachings of Confucius, it could be argued that such as trend is better for women.
They could contribute actively to the economy and become financially independent
which provides them with security in life. Working also gives women broader
perspectives towards many important issues which allow them to engage in
constructive discussions with their husbands resulting in the family being run using
a more sound approach.
In the late 1980s, CCP adopted a more respectful and relevant view of Confucius
and saw that being an authoritarian state is not a feasible resolution to the
reunification issue of Taiwan. Taiwan is a more developed and affluent territory at
the time and hard force would only invite criticisms from the world and strong
resistance from Taiwan. Instead, CCP adopted the outlook of treating Taiwan with
ren which is a compassionate way of relating to fellow human beings. This is even
more important in the Taiwan Issue because the Taiwanese are not others; they
are us in the sense that other than the aboriginals tribes, the other Taiwanese
people are mainly Han Chinese whose forefathers crossed over from mainland
China. Thus, CCP calls for a reunification based on the fact that the island shares a
common cultural background with China. Thus, CCP calls for a reunification based
on the fact that the island shares a common cultural background with China. Using
an ideology to show commonalities and thus a reason to reunify is certainly easier
to go down ones throat than sheer military force. However, such an approach has
not managed to help CCP resolve the matter speedily as Taiwan still sees itself as
being independent of the mainland and reunification is not something that will
happen in the foreseeable future. Statistics have shown that 54% of Taiwanese
would like status quo or independence and this percentage is likely to increase as
the years go by. Confucianism has been effective in deterring the use of military
force to resolve the Taiwan Issue and has prevented bloodshed and economic
destruction of both China and Taiwan. Even though Taiwan has yet to reunify with
China, status quo need not necessarily be a bad result. With both economies
growing steadily and both populations enjoying affluence, it is certainly far better
than trying to reunify amidst strong resistance. This prevents huge amount of funds
and other resources being spent on a cause that does not necessarily have positive
impacts on the well-being of the people. With independence, Taiwan is a trading
partner to China. With reunification, Taiwan is another economic engine to China.
Either way, China is set to gain and thus reunification should be a secondary
concern.
Confucianism is a school of thoughts that emphasizes on harmonious relationships
between people and has certainly indirectly influenced China. As CCP sets its
policies on developing the Chinese economy by establishing ties with other

countries, their policies would be governed by a principle that values harmony and
peace. This would help China create a positive image in the eyes of other
economies and thus see China as a potential trading partner and thus help China to
constantly increase its number of trading partners and foreign investor. It can then
concluded that Confucianism is indeed effective, albeit indirectly in helping China
cope with its political and socio-economic issues.